1992 Consensus a base of peaceful cross-Strait ties: Mainland spokesperson

A Chinese mainland spokesperson said Friday that the 1992 Consensus is the political foundation for peaceful cross-Strait ties, urging Taiwan to adhere to the one-China principle.

Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson of the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO), made the remarks in response to a question asked by a journalist regarding the Washington Post's recent interview with Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen.

"Only by sticking to the 1992 Consensus and its core meaning -- that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same China -- can the two sides ensure the peaceful and stable development of cross-Strait ties," said Ma, adding that the mainstream public opinion on both sides of the Strait wanted to maintain peaceful ties.

Ma said that the liaison and communication mechanism between TAO and Taiwan's mainland affairs authority, and the consultation and negotiation mechanism between the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits and Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation, had been established upon the political foundation of the 1992 Consensus.

"Only by recognizing this political foundation that embodies the one China policy can institutional communication between the two sides continue," Ma said.